St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-10
COMMISSIONERS TALK BACK.
The Railway Commission Is Evil
IDENTITY Tired of Being Raaate6

The Railway Commission LIS Evil
IDENTITY Tired OF Being Roasted.
3: Some people who thought they had
grievances against the state railroad
commission have been sending In pretty
warmly -worded ''roasts" on those Off
Gals of late. The commission has evil
IDENTITY come to the conclusion that 1t Is
time to give some of those who are in
clined to talk too freely, return shot,
and accordingly they gave out the
''open letter" given below, which, they
say. will apply to large number who
have been contributing to their stock of
mail OF late. The commission says:
Dear Sir: In acknowledging the receipt Of
your letter of the Sd inst, relating to the
action of this commission, looking to the re-
duction of the railroad charges on small
packages or parcels, we feel constrained to
refer also to yours Of the 18th ult, in which
you make, as it seems to u.s. some uncalled-
for, unjust and ill-tempered comments
coupled with threat upon condition. as to
the commission and its method of doing
business.
We have found IL the practice of the board
that to furnish the carrier the complaint OF
the shipper or consignee, and In turn to serve
copy of the carriers answer upon the COM
plainant, serves to reveal to each the others
exact position ana to clear up many mis-
uHueFStanulilS. 1nelS are many complaints
sent to us, with the evident understanding
on the part OF those making them, that their
duty i'll the matter ends with the complaint
that it Is ours TO adopt their views of both
the facts and the law Of the case, and 10 sum
marty redress their alleged wrongs without
hearing and without delay. BIT the COM
mission does not take that view OF its duties
II AS THEY INTERPRET THE Law,
the right OF thecompany complained Of to be
Informed of the complaints, to present its
answer and have the same considered, is as
positive and as undeniable right as the
right of complaint itself We are aware that
our official duties powers not strictly judic-
1al, which the law contemplated may be ex-
erclsed and which we have on several
occasions exercised, without the intercession
OF complaint and answer. But the exercise
OF such powers Is not involved in the ascer-
tainment of the truth of charges that may be
disputed, qualified or justified. In all such
cases we feel bound to observe the rules of
procedure In our courts OF justice, without
regard to the displeasure and Impotence of
the plaintiff that the defendant is not con-
demded and executed without hearing.
Ihe remark which you assume to quote,
rejecting upon the character and the cast of
the commission, may be founded upon sn
Ignorance of the amount Of the labor really
performed by it, and the extent Of its useful
ness. as dense as was yours Of the necessary
to deny the right, 50 dear to the heart
of every American citizen, 70 criti-
else and condemn unheard, every public
oficer. We accepted office with that under
standing, and SO have no reason to complain,
but patiently rest upon the hope and expec-
tation that results will eventually vindicate
both the purposes and the usefulness Of the
commission. Whether one man more shall
join the ranks Of our traducers, as YOU
threaten to do If your views are not adopted,
concerns us but little. So we trust that you
will not fiatter yourself that the action of the
commission i'll requiring the railroad COM
show a 6 NJ
continuing the practice of which you com
plain. is the result of your taking us to task,
for the same question has been raised by
many other parties, and our course as well as
the final result, whatever that may be- would
have been the same had you never be ~.
However, we promise that your pres
plant, as well as any other which
In the future see fit to present. sh g
prompt and impartial Consideration con-
formable to the law and the established rules
of procedure